Lieutenant Col. Shawn Beltran, (2nd from left) the incoming commanding officer of 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, and a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Lt. Col. David Everly, (left) the outgoing commanding officer, and a native of Inglewood, Calif., salute Marines and sailors serving with the battalion during the pass in review of a change of command ceremony at Camp Las Pulgas here, June 29, 2013. Everly served for two years as the battalion’s commanding officer and said leading and being in command of Marines is one of the greatest honors.

While Everly closes the chapter on his time with the battalion, Beltran begins to write his.

“The battalion has a fantastic reputation and Lt. Col. Everly has done a great job getting them ready for combat,” said Beltran, a native of Wichita Falls, Texas. “I’m excited and honored to have this opportunity.”

Beltran plans on continuing the focus on training and combat readiness that Everly instilled in the Marines and sailors within the battalion.

“We are going to take care of our Marines and be ready for any mission that is assigned to us,” Beltran said. “We will continue to focus on preparing Marines.”

Everly took solace in knowing that the battalion would be taken care of when he left.

“I feel confident I left the battalion smartly and in good hands,” said Everly of Beltran.

Everly, a native of Inglewood, Calif., served within the regiment for the last five years and said leaving was bittersweet.

“It is tough to relinquish command,” Everly said. “It’s a great honor and responsibility. I’ve watched every unit deploy and come back. I’ve given a lot to this unit and this unit has given a lot back to my family and me.”

With a new commanding officer, the history and reputation of the cannon cockers of 5th Bn., 11th Marines, lives on in the Marines and sailors.

“The spirit of the artilleryman and the cannon cockers are alive and well here at Pulgas,” Everly said. “There is not a challenge that the Marines could not and would not be able to handle.”